OJBs Web Site: Blog Page

Note: You are currently viewing my old web site. There is a new version with most of this content at OJB.NZ.
The new site is being updated, uses modern techniques, has higher quality media, and has a mobile-friendly version.
This old site will stay on-line for a while, but maybe not indefinitely. Please update your bookmarks. Thanks.

Add a Comment (Go Up to OJB's Blog Page)

Voting

Entry 65, on 2004-10-11 at 09:31:25 (Rating 2, News)

Several interesting elections were held over the weekend but the one that affects us most was the local body elections held in New Zealand. Maybe I will comment on the elections in Australia and Afghanistan later.

There have been two issues discussed here, with great consternation. First, the lower participation in the election process; and second, the validity and practicality of the single transferable vote (STV) proportional voting system.

The voter turnout looked like it might be as low as 30% to 40% at one time, but in the end it was about 50%. Some people have suggested we should have compulsory participation in elections, but others have said that is counter-productive.

Should people have to vote if they don't want to? I don't think so, because if someone doesn't want to vote they are unlikely to make a sensible decision. I know that in a pure sense everyone should vote, but I believe that some people are doing everyone a favour by not voting! Also, democracy is supposed to be about freedom and choice. Its sort of an oxymoron to say we have a "compulsory democracy" isn't it?

The STV system is complicated in the way it operates behind the scenes, but the actual process the voters are required to complete is really simple. I support proportional systems (we use both MMP and STV in new Zealand) and I think it should continue. If a voter can't even figure out how to rank a few candidates, they probably shouldn't even be voting!

There are no comments for this entry.

You can leave comments about this entry using this form.

To add a comment: enter a name and email (both optional), type the number shown above, enter a comment, then click Add.
Note that you can leave the name blank if you want to remain anonymous.
Enter your email address to receive notifications of replies and updates to this entry.
The comment should appear immediately because the authorisation system is currently inactive.